Condensing apparatus



March 7, 1933. J. KIRGAN 1,900,504

CONDENS ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1930 1 N V EN TOR. zfaizn Hiya/z.

FII, BY Q14;

' HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE' JOHN KIRGAN, F EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INGEBSOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW J EBSEY CONDENSING APPARATUS Application filed November 25, 1930. Serial No. 498,037.

This invention relates to condensers, but more particularly to condensing apparatus employing condensate as a medium for effecting condensation of the steam flowing through the condenser.

One object of the invention is to enable the use of an endless circulatory system including the tubes in the condenser for condensing the steam flowing through the condenser.

Another object is to assure a low temperature of the cooling medium flowing through the system.

A further object is to compensate for any loss, as for instance through leakage, ofthe cooling medium used for condensing the steam, and another object is to effect cooling of the liquid used for condensing the steam by water supplied from an extraneous source and which water may be unsuited for boiler feed purposes.

Other objects will be in part obvious as the description of the invention proceeds and in part pointed out hereinafter.

fication and in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a condensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention, and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional plan view taken through Figure 1 on the line. 22 looking in the direction indicated by.

the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the draw! ing, A designates generally a condenser comprising a casing B having an inlet opening C for the admission of steam and an outlet opening D through which condensate may be withdrawn from the casing B. From the outlet opening D leads a connection E through which condensate may flow to the boiler feed supply and in the connection ,E

is interposed a condensate removal device,"

such as a pump F.

Arranged within the casing B to extend longitudinally thereof and therefore transversely of the direction of '.'steam flow I through the casing B are tubes G for con- In the drawing accompanying this speci-.

, the pump veying cooling liquid through the casing. The ends of the tubes G are supported by tube sheets H which form closures for the ends of the casing, and between the tube sheets H and the ends of the casing B are flexible joints J to permit of relative expansive and contractile movement of the casing B and the tubes G.

Disposed at the ends of the casing B as by seating against the tube.sheets H are water boxes K and L. For the purposes of this invention the water box K may be considered as being the inlet water box from which cooling liquid flows to the tubes G, and the water box L is the discharge box into which the cooling liquid is discharged from the tubes G. Both water boxes K and L have openings 0 for the passage of cooling medium.

In accordance with the practice of the invention means are provided for conveying the cooling medium directly from the discharge box L to the inlet box K. To this end a conduit or pipe P is connected at one end to the opening 0 of the discharge box L 75 and with its other end to the opening 0 of the inlet box K. The conduit P, the boxes Kand L and the tubes G thusconstitute an endless circulatory system for the coolin medium.

n the conduit P is interposed a pump Q for circulating the cooling medium, such as condensate. The condensate used for this purpose may be supplied directly from the discharge output of the condensate removal pump F througha conduit R leading from the connection E on the discharge side. of F to the conduit P. The conduit e constantly open so, that in the R may event that leakage occurs in the circulatory systemcondensate may be supplied thereto to compensate for loss in the supply of cooling medium. In order that the condensate flowing through the cooling tubes G may be maintained at a suitably low temperature the boxes K and L are each provided with coolingelements in the form of groups of tubes S and T respectively. The tubes S and T preferably lie directly across the openings 0 so that cooling medium entering the inlet contaminate the liquid in box K and flowing from the discharge box L will be brought into intimate contact with the surfaces of the tubes S and T.

The ends of the tubes S and T are supported by tube sheets U which may seat against the sidw of the water boxes'K and L whereto they may be secured in any suitable manner. The tube sheets U in turn may serve as seats for water boxes V, one box of each set of which may act as an inlet box and the other water box as a discharge box.

The boxesV serving as inlet boxesmay be connected to an extraneous source of supply, as with sea water in cases where the apparatus forms a part of the power equipment of marine craft and for which use the present invention is particularly adapted. It is however to be understood that the invention is also well adapted for use in locations'or under. conditions where water suitable. for boiler feed purposes is not readily availableor where the supply is limited. In such cases condensate may be used as a cooling medium for the tubes G to condense the steam fiowingthrough the casing and water of inferior quality may be utilized as a means for maintaining the cooling medium in the system ata low temperature.

In practice, assuming the circulatory system consisting of the tubes G, the K and Land the conduit P to be full of cooling liquid, the pump Q, is set in operation to circulate such cooling medium through the system. Upon passing through the opening 0 of the inlet box K and in flowing to the discharge box L the cooling medium will pass over the cool surfaces of the tubes Sand T. Theheat absorbed by thecooling medium during the prqoess of condensation will then be transferred through the tubes S and T to the cooling water flowing therethrough. In this way the liquid usedfor condensing the steam may be readily maintained sufiiciently ,cool to assure efiicient condensation.

By connectingthe conduit P with the discharge output of the condensate pump F a full supply 0t cooling medium in the system will be at alltimes assured. This is due to the fact that the pressure of the condensate on the discharge side of the pump F is of considerably higher value than that. of the cooling medium in the circulatory system.

It also contemplated to maintain the pressure of the cooling medium in the. system ata slightly higher value than the pressure of the water flowing throughthe cooling elements so that, in the event that leaks occur in the cooling elements arranged in the boxes K and L, the higher pressure of the fluid used for condensing purposes will prevent cooling water in the tubes S and T from flowing into the boxes K and L to boxes the circulatory system. 4

I claim:

1. Condensing apparatus, comprising a 7 ,in one water box for cooling the water supplied to the tubes.

3. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, inlet and disyeying cooling water through the casing, in-

charge water boxes for the casing, tubes for conveying cooling water through the casing, and a cooling element in the inlet water box for cooling the water supplied to the tubes.

- 4. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, inlet and discharge water boxes for the casing, tubes in the casing for conveying cooling water from the inlet box to the discharge box, and cooling elements in the boxes for coolingthe water supplied to the tubes.

5. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenserhaving a casing, inlet and discharge water boxes for the casing, tubesin the casing for conveying water from the in- .let box to the discharge box, means including a connection and a pump for withdrawing cooling water from the discharge box and delivering such water to the inletbox, a cooling element between the discharge side of the pump and the tubes and over which the cooling water flows before entering the tubes, and means for supplying water from an extraneous source to the cooling element to absorb heat from the water supplied to the tubes.

6. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, tubes 1n the casing, a pump for supplying cooling water to and for withdrawing the water from the tubes, a cooling element for cooling all the cooling water prior to its entry into the tubes, 9. connection for conveying water from the tubes directly to the inlet end of the pump, and a discharge connection for the pump supplying cooling water directly over the cooling element to the tubes.

7. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser havlng a casing provided with an inlet opening-for steam and an outlet opening for condensate, a condensate removal pump connected to the outlet opening, a circulatory system for the condenser including tubes in the casing and connection means for conveying water from one end of the tubes to the other end, a pump for circulating the water in the circulatory system,

and a conduit between the connection means and the discharge output of the condensate removal pump.

8. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing provided with an inlet opening for steam and an outlet opening for condensate, pump connected to the outlet opening, a circulatory system for the condenser including tubes in the casing and connection means for conveying water from one end of the tubes to the other end, a pump for circulating the water in the circulatory system, a conduit connecting the connection means with the discharge output of the condensate removal pump, and means for cooling the water supplied to the tubes.

Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, water boxes for the casing, means constituting an endless circulatory system for the condenser and including tubes in the casing and communicating with the water boxes, and means for pumping cooling water under pressure through the entire circulatory system and the Water boxes.

10. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, water boxes for the casing, tubes in the casing for conveying cooling water from one water box to another, and tubes in the water boxes conveying water for absorbing the heat from the cooling water supplied to the tubes in the casing. A

11. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, means constituting an endless circulatory system for the condenser and including tubes in the casing, a pump for circulating water through the system, and tubes in the water boxes supplied by water from an extraneous source to absorb the heat of the water supplied to the tubes in the casing.

12. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having a casing, tubes'in the casing, water boxes on the ends of the casing, means including connections and a pump for supplying condensate to the tubes to condense steam flowing through the casing, and tubes in the water. boxes supplied by water from an extraneous source to cool the water supplied to the tubes in the casing.

13. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having means constituting a circulatory system for condensate-to condensesteam flowing through the casing, and cooling elements in the system disposed at opposite ends of the condenser and being supplied by water from an extraneous source to cool the condensate.

14. Condensing apparatus, comprising a condenser having means constituting a cir culatory system for condensate to condense steam flowing through the casing, and cooling elements in the system adjacent the a condensate removal points of entry and discharge of the condensate to and from the condenser and be ing supplied by water from an extraneous source and at a lower pressure than the condensate for absorbing heat from the condensate.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. 

